The Drama Theater building in Mariupol, where 1,000 to 1,200 Ukrainians were hiding and which was bombed by the Russians, was almost leveled in March 2022 by the Russian-imposed authorities there.

“All that remains of the Mariupol Drama Theater, where hundreds of civilians died as a result of barbaric shelling by the occupiers. They can destroy the scene of the crime, but war criminals cannot escape punishment,” the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported, releasing a video showing only part of the former theater.

Ukrainian officials estimate that up to 90 percent of the city’s infrastructure has been left in ruins by Russian bombing, and images from last year show that Moscow has begun demolishing many residential buildings.

Initially, a large protective screen was erected around the remains of the city’s theater, where hundreds of people are believed to have died after Russian forces fired rockets at it on March 18. The attack, which Amnesty International called a “clear war crime” by Russia, left the site in ruins.

After the capture of the city, the Russians began to make a number of changes, including imposing a Russian training program.

The Russian occupation authorities of Mariupol also removed the Holodomor monument from the port city, saying that it would be used for building materials.

Meanwhile, satellite photos released by Maxar show that Russia is increasing its military presence in the captured port city of Mariupol, building a huge military base.